Rating: 
Summary: Talk about preaching to the converted!
Review: "Although the events in The War in Heaven are fictional, the invisible world of spirits in describes is not." This sentence, from the author's note at the end of this novel, illuminates the difference between Theodore Beale and other writers of fantasy. Mainstream fantasy authors like George R. R. Martin, Terry Goodkind, Robert Jordan, Piers Anthony and the like all understand that the mythical concepts they create for their novels are just that, mythical. Beale does not. If religion constitutes the ultimate confusion of fantasy and reality, then that confusion sees its purest expression in religious entertainment. I'll admit right off the bat I'm an atheist. So why, you may ask, am I reviewing this book at all? I was sent free promotional copies of The War in Heaven and its sequel The World in Shadow by publisher Pocket Books so that I might review them for a different website I write for. After determining that site wouldn't be the appropriate venue for reviews of these books, I couldn't help wanting to post SOME kind of commentary after reading things in The War in Heaven that profoundly offended both my sensibilities and intellect. The War in Heaven, for the most part, reads like a poor episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer written by a Christian fundamentalist. Sure, there are some entertaining passages, but it is sheer folly to claim, as one other reader did in his review, that the book isn't preachy. The book preaches throughout its length. Characters pray everywhere. Now it's not as though that sort of thing would be unexpected in a Christian novel; Beale is dutifully giving his audience what they want. But unlike mainstream fiction, Christian fiction is of course MEANT to evangelize. Otherwise, what's the point? You might as well write a secular novel. But what really irked me were passages in the aforementioned "author's note" that I found so wrong-headed that they deserved comment. They indicate the difference in perspective between rationalists and the religious with crystal clarity. Beale writes that "a rational, post-Enlightenment world has a difficult time admitting evil's reality." On the contrary, rationalists simply reject the notion that evil has a supernatural source. To claim that someone who does bad things does so out of demonic influence is not merely irrational but irresponsible. People who do bad things should be held accountable for their actions. "The devil made them do it" unjustly absolves those people of being held accountable and clouds the real reasons behind why someone might do a bad thing. Blaming imaginary beings for real problems solves nothing. Beale then gives us a brief bit of autobiography where he describes his pre-Christian life as, apparently, a hotbed of "sin" and debauchery. "I could feel my mind slipping away with the shards of my morality," Beale writes of himself, "as I became less and less interested in anything but sin." Well, how nice for him, but I can say that as an atheist, my own life looks nothing like this, nor am I headed "straight for self-destruction." Nor does Beale's past reflect the lives of any of my other atheist friends either, all of whom are hard-working, upstanding, family-oriented people. If Beale's past really was as irrational and self-absorbed as he claims it was, it's no surprise religion was able to hook him when he was at his most vulnerable. Beale also makes an attempt to defend the Christian doctrine of Hell by claiming that "in my experience, it is not God who sends us [to Hell]." I don't know if, by referring to his "experience," Beale is implying he has personally checked out Hell, but I can say that the scriptures do indeed make it clear that it is God's wrath that determines who suffers eternal torment. Every Christian loves John 3:16, but try reading John 3:18 or 3:36 sometime. A God who says, in effect, "I love you, but if you don't love me back, you'll be tortured for eternity!" cannot by any stretch of the imagination be called good or loving. To do so strips the very word "love" of any meaning it could possibly have. As long as Christianity holds to the doctrine of eternal punishment for simply not being Christian, it will never be able to lay any legitimate claim to being a moral belief system. If you want a good example of evil, I say "belief in Hell." Finally, I was disgusted by Beale's remark that "Hell is our natural destination. Each of us is drowning in a sea of self-destruction." Such a profoundly misanthropic statement reveals that, at its core, Christianity has a deep loathing of humanity and life itself. It is diametrically opposed to the positive, humanistic outlook most atheists subscribe to. I ask you, honestly, which is the heathier, happier outlook? You know, there just might be something to a rational, post-Enlightenment worldview after all!
Rating: 
Summary: An entertaining and thought-provoking fantasy novel. . .
Review: . . .which should have wide appeal. In this first installment of what promises to be a fascinating series, Mr. Beale presents a tale of the great War in Heaven -- the battle between good and evil when angel battled angel for control of the Heavenly City and the Throne of God. Although presented in a more "juvenile" manner than, say, Peretti's "This Present Darkness", I, frankly, found the book more satisfying. It is evident that Mr. Beale has a grasp on many great myths and stories and is (mostly) successful in weaving elements into and out of the story. It is also evident that he has at least a partial understanding of medieval concepts of angelic hierarchies, etc. For me, the conclusion was less than fully satisfying. I wish that the decision of Chris for Christ could have been handled a bit more deftly. Rather, I felt as though I was witnessing a particularly ineffective Altar Call. As a sacramental Christian, I also wish that Mr. Beale's development of signs and symbols had been handled with more depth. But overall, I truly enjoyed this book and hope that the rest of the series will be able to meet or even exceed the standard which has been set.
Rating: 
Summary: The non-religious can now rejoice.
Review: I am not a religious person by most means. I saw the cover of this novel and was intrigued. I decided to buy it after reading the back cover. I was hooked from page one. It is a total action-advernture novel that just happens to have a religious theme. The nice thing about it was that it wasn't preachy. You were given the perspective that Theodore Beale was offering and he was able to craft everything together into one of the most entertaing books I have ever read. The only thing that disappoints me is that the follow-up novel won't be available until sometime in late 2002. I highly recommend this to the faithful and the non alike. Pick it up, you won't be sorry.
Rating:
Summary: very promising first book
Review: I came as a skeptic of sorts to Theodore Beale's "The War in Heaven." So much of modern "Christian" fiction is neither well done nor Christian. The fact that Beale is represented by the agents who serve a couple of the authors who write some of the books that have given me this negative impression did not speak well to me about the possibility of this book being any different (neither did the cheesy cover artwork-which will soon be thankfully remedied in the forthcoming trade paperback version). How wrong I was... There are indeed things I do not like about "The War in Heaven." Yet rarely has my heart cried out in joy over a book as it has with this one. First, the bones I have to pick... The biggest one is the representation of Kaym. Kaym is the fallen angel that mentors Christopher in the ways of darkness (or light--depending on who is to be believed). Kaym spews all kinds of Nietzschean drivel about power and freedom being beyond good and evil. This is not the part that I dislike. Having subscribed to such folly in my youth, I can see this being a decent angle for a fallen angel to take in the postmodern age. What bugs me about Kaym is his garb. Describing him as wearing Ray-bans is gonna date him, and possibly the book, really fast. My second bone to pick is the way in which Jami and Holli talk. Beale has hit the nail of how American teens communicate on the head. His dialogue is spot-on. Yet restraint is a good thing. Perhaps a little less of the "ohmigod's" and the "like's" would have been a good thing too. Bearing these two minor flaws in mind, I still have to give this book my highest recommendation. Beale proves himself to be a master of imagery. I was surprised to find some truly great moments of what can only be described as mythopoeic storytelling in this book. Ahura Azdha is full of wonders. Beale's remolding of the words from the Bible's second book of Kings about Sennacherib's threats against Hezekiah and Jerusalem in the fictional siege of Chasah is sheer brilliance. There is a whole lot of meat to this book. Biblical allusion, references to Milton's Paradise Lost, Apocryphal tales-"The War in Heaven" is a real treat. This is redemptive fiction at its most imaginative best. I urge you to get this book.
Rating:
Summary: One Of The Best
Review: I have read MANY books on MANY different subjects, but this was one of the best books I have ever read. I really enjoyed how the author branched out from the normal preaching mode to venture out into sci-fi. It was a very well written plot with extremely well developed characters. I felt that kids and adults alike can relate to this book. It gives people the chance to read about the fight between good and evil in a totally unique way. I am now eagerly awaiting the second book in the series which is due out sometime next year. I would recommend this book for anyone who enjoys christian sci-fi.
Rating:
Summary: War in Heaven
Review: I love books that describe the supernatural as real and how we interact with it in our normal life. Like Frank Peretti's books, this book is a very interesting drama of angels guarding us and demons enticing us to make bad decisions. Theodore gives us a view of how important our role is to the rulers of the Universe. It makes my life much more meaningful when I know that I am so important and that I have an important role to play in the next life. The best part was when God showed his power to his attackers. I did not understand much of the symbolic language in the beginning. However, I learned the secret of the power of the key given to Christopher before he got into trouble. There are probably a lot of interesting clues with lessons behind them that will take time to discover. That is, unless you ask the author. Beale has a great mind and his books will help many people see the real world.
Rating:
Summary: One Hip, Colorful Journey!
Review: Take one part C.S. Lewis' "Perelandra," add another part "This Present Darkness," and soak it in a batter of DC comic books...you'll have Beale's "The War in Heaven." This book tries to do so much, yet it maintains a simplicity that can be both attractive and aggravating. Beale takes us into a celestial battle between demons and angels, showing us the struggle through the eyes of three teens. One of them, Christopher, is drawn away by the Fallen angels and sides quickly with them, discovering power and success that eluded him as a mere mortal. His transformation is believable. His later conflict to choose good over evil is less fleshed out. The realms of battle, the weapons, and strategies were imaginative and interesting. The entire feel of the novel is one of a hip video game (which I believe is/was in existence, designed by Beale himself). Although this aspect of the story adds color and melodrama, it also undermines the characters and true drama. I was fascinated. Yet I was never truly worried, for example, about the livelihood of any particular character. For a book that'll rock your concepts of heaven and hell, for a fast-paced and imaginative read, this book will satisfy you. Take it for what it's worth and be challenged. I was. I'm looking forward to what unfolds in the sequel "A World in Shadow."
Rating:
Summary: fantastic fantasy thriller
Review: The Lord threw Lucifer and his ilk out of heaven, but the evil one is not contented to rule in Hell. He wants to reign in Heaven and cast his creator out of his domain. The key to Lucifer's battle plan is a young Earthling, Christopher, a nerdy lad who gets picked on at school and finds solace in video games. The fallen angel Kaym visits Christopher offering great power if the lad opens Heaven's Gate; Christopher eagerly accepts. He succeeds in his mission and the dark angels win the battle for heaven and they now want to take dominion over another of God's worlds. Christopher helps with the war plans but just as victory is within their grasp, the boy realizes what he has become and tries to change Lucifer's certain victory into a heavenly defeat. ETERNAL WARRIORS is a fantasy thriller that describes the ultimate battle between good and evil. The characters are realistic and are symbolic of good or evil. The protagonist is a complex person who is not very likable until he sees the truth and tries to atone what he has caused. Christopher makes Theodore Beale's novel a very different kind of reading experience, one that the audience will remember in their prayers. Harriet Klausner
Rating:
Summary: Great Christian Sci-Fi
Review: Theodore Beale has written a great science fiction story that most Christians would be delighted to find. The story involves the interaction between humankind, both past and present, with demonic spirits and angels. If you enjoyed the Frank Peretti Christian fiction books, then you will enjoy Eternal Warriors, The War In Heaven. I am already anticipating Book 2 in the series which Mr. Beale says will come out next year.
Rating:
Summary: brilliant
Review: this book is awesome. i recommend it to all christian friends. the way he took the spiritual war and placed it into that kind of a perspective, i felt like i knew the people on a personal level. this is one of the only books i ever got that caught up in. to feel the righteous presence of the divine, the terrible pride of the fallen. caught in both dimensions. Mr.Beale has an excellent way of writing. it gives you a point on the view from heaven:)
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